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Ok, I know it’s 2014 (and happy New Year!) but I still need to wrap up 2013 before moving on, and the most important part is in books. Now these are the most significant books I read in the last year, I don’t think any of them were actually published in 2013. Hell, half the time I’m lucky if I’m reading a book from this decade. So keeping that in mind, these are the best books I read in the last year.

1. The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain: This is a little bit cheating, because I’m not quite done with this book yet, however, I’m pretty close, and I am quite happy to have read it. I thought it would be basically Mark Twain making fun of travelling, which he does, but really it’s joining one of the best minds on a tour of Europe. Now, he’s firmly in 18th century politics, so there’s a bunch of stuff (particularly politically) that hasn’t aged the best, but what’s amazing is how little has changed at the same time. You’ll recognize his fellow passengers, and while there’s many funny parts, he really is trying to have us take a virtual tour with him, so there’s sometimes that he just marvels at the beauty of it all. Wonderful.

2. Set This House in Order By Matt Ruff: MPD/DID is a very contraversial diagnosis, however, you really need to put this aside to read this book. Ruff isn’t really writing about that anyway, and the biggest thing I love about this book is that while it has abuse victims as the main characters, he never makes it about that. A wonderfully human book that is way better than it has any right being.

3. The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Water Moers: This german book is a storybook for adults. Loosely written and wandering, it’s not the sort of thing that people who want a tight story woudl be into. However, that’s why this is such a charming book, it’s a series of events in an imaginary land that just move from one thing and another.

4. Claire Dewitt and the City of the Dead Sara Gran: I already reviewed this, but can I just say “breath of fresh air” for mystery?

5. The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliot: Dark and wonderful. I already reviewed this one too, but if you’re looking for something that is John Irving-esque with a twist, this is it.

6. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie: His whole trilogy is great, but this book is what really sucks you into it. Dark as pitch humor laced with fantasy, without the silliness that fantasy often has.

7. Crusoe’s Daughter by Jane Gardam: This is the most beautiful book I’ve read all year by a long shot. Meloncholy, elegaic, going into the nature of story and freedom. Why isn’t Jane Gardam more famous in the states?

8. The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain De Botton: De Botton looks into the meaning of work–he’s got one amazing mind, he’s like a living encyclopedia. Read this to get smarter.

9. How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler: This is one of the few self-help books that lives up to its name. Most people don’t read very literately, this book teaches you how. Anybody could pick this up and learn a thing or two.

10. Embassytown by China Mieville: Georgeous slice of sci-fi that is thoughtful and urgent. If I could only build worlds with half the depth that Mieville does.

11. The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs: Never before has queer mental health issues been written down this concisely for gay men. I don’t agree with everything he says, but I can say that I’ve never met a gay man who hasn’t had to deal with at least some of the issues presented here.

12. Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh: I really got into mindfulness this year, and this is the best book I ran into. Very simple and accessible, never preachy, and doesn’t promise stuff if you do what he says. This is the best guide for westerners to get into meditation and mindful livng.